The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-05-26

charmed life.
The fever had run Its course,
when. in September. cool, wet
week broke the oppressive, heat, and no
new cases occurred afterward except
one. But ali, that one tore the doc
tors heart-strings more than all the
rest. for in her room. tossing in
delirious agony, May called pitifully
for the father she did not recognize,
the lover, absent from her, the friends
gone from earth forever. Over and
over again she lived the painful scenes
of the past few weeks. and Mrs. Wells,
her faithful nurse, knew she stood
very near the grave for many long
days.
May did not know when Mark Pen
dleton was sent for and admitted to the
darkened room, for what they feared
was last gaze at his promised wife;
she did not know when all the glori-
Gus profusion of her golden hair was
shorn Oft. to place bladders of ice upon
her head; she knew nothing for many,
many days. till. waking from long,
deep sleep, she saw, with clear. COM
pretending eyes. her fathers face
bending over her.
She smiled, wondering where her
voice had gone. as she said, family:
.Father!
And he. softly kissing her eyelids. as
they closed again. only murmured:
THANK God! my child is spared to
me-"
There was long cOnvalescence, and
after May could sit up and be dressed
she wondered where her mirror and
hand-glass had vanished. Mrs. Wells
muttered something about "Eliza's so
careless. always breaking something"
and her father called her little vanity"
with quivering smile, when she asked
for them.
Even when Mark came, as he did
several times, Mrs Wells dressed her,
tied on the lace cap that covered her
poor, bald head, and ''said sick folks
weren't expected to prink.'
But one day. when she felt nearly
we'll, she stole down to the sitting-room
alone, and looked full in the mirror
over the mantlepiece.
She knew then why she had been so
tenderly guarded from the shock of
seeing her own face. A border of tiuted
lace replaced her splendid hair, and a
uniform deep pink color was spread
like mask over her whole face. Her
eyes were sunken, and strange, I'M
natural uglness seemed to have usurped
her own beauty. Covering her face
she wept bitter. unavailing tears.
She had been innocently proud of
her lovely face, and Mark had loved
it. Even in her first grief she thought
most of her lover, sobbing his name
till, as if in answer, he bent over her.
May" he said, ''do not grieve so.
1t is only your beauty that is gone.
The best of you is here. little May"
She looked up saying:
''You had better call me Mary Jane
now. 1t suits my face better"
Il want to call you Mrs. Pendleton,
as soon as possible" he replied, gaily.
"Mark! You would not mary such
sights"
Just try me! Why, May" he add
ed, gravely, ':you surely do not imagine
this change in your face shakes my
love. Suppose this fever had come
after we were married, do you suppose
l should have run awayP"
You would have been forced to sub
NIT then. I suppose" she said. very
dolefully. Nov you can escape"
Thanks! | am very well content
in my present bondage, assure you.
And he proved the fact by urging an
immediate wedding. The doctor smi1-
ed when May made some wandering
comments, saying: 81 should be sorry
to think Mark loved only your beauty.
my daughter"
And the old man INDUCED in most
unusual chuckle, as if immensely anus
ed by some thought of his own.
But the wedding was once more post
poned by Mark himself. His brother
in New Orleans died suddedly, and the
widow needed some one to look after
the property. SO the winter glided
away, and April opened, when dis
patch announced Mark speedy return,
aud preparations for the wedding were
fastened il earnest.
The doctor met Mr. Pendleton at the
| station, and drove him to the house,
assuring him that the day they had pre-
viously selected for the marriage, the
18th, would now meet his engagements
exactly.
''But that is this evening""
Exactly! will postpone it if you
wish.''
Il! No. indeed! But you must give
me chance to Dress
you have three hours. II is now
five My friends will assemble at eight.
You are my guest.
May was INVISIBLE while Mark ate his
supper, and he was escorted to the spare
room. where his trunk stood open ano
every comfort was ready for his toilet.
But tall. slender, white-robed fig.
ure, with long lace vel, waited lean.
ing upon DR.. Trask's arm, when the
bridegroom was ready. and slowly ad
vanced with him into the drawing.
room filled with friends. The solemn
words were spoken that made Nay his
own. and then the bridesmaids gently
lifted the veil, aad Mark saw his wife
His May, fairer than ever, STOOD be.
fore him, her delicate beauty perfectly
restored. Upon her head, in place q
the heavy braids and coils of hair, wert
tiny, clustering ringlets of gold like